Live Around Town This Week

Last week I mentioned how October was looking to be an amazing month for live performances in Seattle. Well…

Tuesday, October 12th

MANU CHAO @ The Paramount

When people say that Manu Chao is a “world” musician, they don’t mean simply that he is from a country other than the US, or that his music has an ethnic or cultural feel; they mean that his music is popular basically everywhere on the planet, and to an extent that few other artists can lay claim. Manu Chao was born in Paris, resides in Spain, has spent significant time in South America, speaks and sings in a variety of languages, and has influences ranging from The Clash to Fela Kuti. He is probably best known in The States for Clandestino, his album of mellow Latin lounge that never gets old (seriously). His live shows, however, are more high-energy rock-and-roll affairs, and as Darek Mazzone said last Tuesday on Wo’ Pop, everyone will be leaving the venue drenched in sweat. And with the whole world to cover, stops through Seattle are rare. Make sure you don’t miss him while he’s here. (7:30 pm, $32)

Wednesday, October 13th

MIIKE SNOW @ Showbox SoDo

Miike Snow is the collaboration of Swedish production duo Chris Karlsson and Pontus Winnberg (Britney Spears – Toxic, among others) with American Andrew Wyatt (and no one named Mike Snow). Their self-titled debut album was released last year and contains the catchy singles “Animal” and “Burial”, but most of the buzz surrounding Miike Snow is due to their amazing live shows. They are routinely one of the most talked about acts at whatever event or festival they happen to be playing, and their club shows are even more remarkable. What makes them unique, in addition to their assorted antics and plain white masks they frequently sport on stage, is the fact that for being considered one of the best live dance groups, their music is rather slow and almost a bit brooding or contemplative. It sure as hell works though, and it’s definitely going to be going down at the SoDo on Wednesday. (8 pm, $22.50 adv/$25 dos)

Miike Snow – Animal

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HOLY FUCK with Indian Jewelery and ClipD Beaks @ Neumos

I was absolutely flabbergasted by Holy Fuck‘s Main Stage show at this year’s Capitol Hill Block Party, and I wasn’t even close to the stage. It almost scares me to think how incredible they are going to be in a venue like Neumos, and to be honest, it’s hard for me to even imagine. The four-piece electronic rock outfit from Toronto feature bass, guitar, drums, keyboards, a variety of effects boxes and not-so-standard instrumentation (including a film reel), as well as an occasional reverberating wail from frontman Brian Borcherdt. Their music could easily be composed using nothing but laptops, and the fact that Holy Fuck rock it all live with little digital help is impressive as hell and makes for one of the most forceful and jaw-dropping shows you can see. It’s a crowded Wednesday of live performances, but for only $13 it will be hard to say no to this show. (8 pm, $13 adv, 21+)

BOB SCHNEIDER with Bascom Hill @ The Tractor Tavern

I’ve seen Bob Schneider countless times and I’ve been waiting and waiting for him to finally soften up, sell-out, show his age, whatever you want to call it, and as much as it pains me to say it, his performance at Bumbershoot last month might have signaled the fact that Bob is a bit over-the-hill. I can’t say I fault him though; he’s played a gajillion live shows over the past 20 years, and despite his lackluster set at Bumbershoot, he was still funny, witty, and more comfortable on stage in front of a crowd than I am curled up in my bed before I go to sleep (he did provide an impromptu and hilarious story about learning stage tricks from Eddie Vedder and dreaming about jumping off the moon into the audience). At the Tractor on Wednesday, playing to a crowd actually there to see him instead of a blase throng of festival goers, he’s likely to reaffirm fans’ faith that he’s still got it, and is still one of the plain coolest musicians touring today. (8 pm, $20)

DEADMAU5 @ The Paramount

Deadmau5 (pronounced dead-mouse) is one of the only strictly electronic DJ/producers to truly cross over into mainstream acceptability. He played a pack set at Sasquatch!, was one of the top billings at last weekend’s Austin City Limits festival, and has been routinely selling out venues that most DJs only dream of even playing at. None of the success is without good reason. In addition to donning a distinctive, over-sized, and sinister Mickey-Mouse head during shows, his beats are original, innovative, and ridiculously hard to get out of your head. And not only is most everything he plays of his own creation, he actually designed most of the programs he uses to make his music. Combine all this with the fact that The Paramount will be a perfect venue to house his unspeakable light show, which is light years ahead of mere laser and strobes, and this is definitely a show for which all the stops should be pulled out. (8 pm, $36.50)

Deadmau5

Thursday, October 14th

PHANTOGRAM with Josiah Wolf @ Neumos

From upstate New York, Phantogram finally released their full-length debut this year. Titled Eyelid Movies, the album combines new songs as well as favorites from past EPs such as “Mouthful of Diamonds”, and has been a KEXP favorite since it’s release. Comprised of Sarah Barthel and Joshua Carter, the duo play synthy electronica accentuated by snare-y hip hop beats that are perfectly complemented by Barthel’s airy voice. Their spectral moniker fits perfectly as well, as their music has a bit of a ghostly feel to it (the vinyl version of Eyelid Movies was fittingly released on electronic label Ghostly International), and this could be the perfect show for indie rock fans looking to really jump into the Halloween spirit headfirst this year…or just indie rock fans. (7 pm, $15 adv, 21+)

photo by Kyle Johnson

Friday, October 15th

BROKEN SOCIAL SCENE @ The Paramount

It’s almost impossible to keep up with who is actually a member of Broken Social Scene, to the point where most people have probably just given up. Over the past decade the multi-faceted Toronto-based indie pop-ers have seen a ridiculous number of musicians come, go, leave to start new bands, join other bands, come back, leave again, and on and on. Founders Kevin Drew and Brendan Canning have always been there though, and on their fifth full-length album, 2010’s Forgiveness Rock Record, they’ve teamed up with Sea and Cake’s John McEntire, who handled some of the production duties and will likely be accompanying them on tour. Absent will be Emily Haines (Metric) and Feist, but Lisa Lobsinger is a more-than-capable replacement for the band’s beautiful female vocalizations. Playing at the Paramount, I can’t imagine this not being a great show. Don’t let the absence of one or two favorite and now former members dissuade you. (8 pm, $22)

Sunday, October 17th

M.I.A. with Rye Rye @ the Showbox at the Market

I have no idea what to expect from M.I.A. live, and that’s probably the best reason I can come up with to go. Here’s the controversial video for “Born Free” off her 2010 album /\/\/\Y/\ (MAYA):